An extensive if not comprehensive look at all 12 Mid-American Conference college basketball teams. The opening game is November 10, so we better get started.
Last year: 17-15 (8-8), T-2nd MAC West; lost to Akron in MAC tournament quarterfinal; no postseason tournament
This year: Picked 3rd in MAC West (2 of 24 first place votes)
Coach: Charles Ramsey, native Ypsilantian, entering his sixth season. His record: 42-71.
First Game: Friday, November 12 at Michigan State
Can an eagle dribble a basketball? Probably not. But it could grip it by the husk.
Departures
Carlos Medlock (graduated)
Justin Dobbins (graduated)
Transfers (sitting out this year)
Derek Thompson (Southeast Missouri)
Returning Award-Winners
Brandon Bowdry (All-MAC Second Team)
Big Nonconference Games
11/12 @ Michigan State
12/8 vs. Drake
A Paragraph of Thought on Eastern Michigan Basketball
Last year they were a very scrappy three-headed monster with Medlock/Bowdry/Dobbins acting as the three leaders, but only Bowdry remains. Who's going to replace all those three-pointers, and who will guard the big men? They probably underwhelmed coach Ramsey last year with a .500 MAC record, and I don't know if they can be much better than that, but they look like a team that has a tournament run in them. Of course, I said that last year. Nevertheless, it's going to be Bowdry and friends who just might surprise everybody in the West.